Free 3013: MENDED by Kali Argent Page A

possible. Unfortunately, instead of being disappointed, the day’s failure had only pushed Cami to dig deeper.
    “The repair techs think Bay E will be open again tomorrow. Well, that was the update as of 1:30 this afternoon.” She strode confidently across the atrium, waving her hands in animated gestures as she spoke. “If they do have it operational, I’d like to do a quick scan there in the morning, but I doubt we’ll find anything.”
    “Probably not.” Likely, most of the same crew working the cargo bay would be back to Bay E come morning.
    “Right, but it’s worth the stop.” Her brow furrowed, and she cocked her head to the side. “I want to go to the Rusty Spigot.”
    “No.”
    “Tariq, I think someone in there will know something.”
    “No.” She had no business among the bottom feeders who haunted the pub. “It’s too dangerous.”
    “You’ll be with me,” she argued.
    “It’s not happening.” She could beg him until she turned blue, but he refused to let her enter that snake pit, not even if he accompanied her. “That place isn’t—Cami? Cami, where are you going?” Changing directions, he grunted as he marched after her. “What are you doing?” Tariq caught her upper arm and pulled her to a stop before she could enter the Hat Trick.
    Easing her arm free of his grip, she continued into the shop and selected a dark blue, knit beanie from the shelf. “I’m buying a hat.” She pulled the woven material on over her head and tugged it down around her ears. “I’m tired of my hair being in my face all the time, and this will hide the scroll mark.”
    “You could have just said that.”
    “Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t realize you actually cared about what I have to say.”
    “I’m trying to protect you.” Stubborn, foolish, naïve pain in my ass.
    “I heard that.”
    “Good,” he growled back. “And just how do you plan to pay for that?” Tariq pointed to the hat on her head. “In case you’ve forgotten, you have no credits.”
    She spoke without looking away from him. “Antok, how much for this hat?”
    “How do you know his name?” Tariq had been on the station for nine years and didn’t know the shop owners name.
    “For you, no charge, Cami. Although, I think the pink one would look better with your dark hair.”
    Grinning widely, Cami thanked Antok as she switched out the blue hat for a soft pink one. “Tell your mate I said hello!” she called before casually strolling out of the store.
    “He’s mated? How do you know he’s mated? And why the hell do people keep giving you free stuff.”
    “Because I’m nice to people, Tariq. You should try it sometime.”
    “I’m nice to people.”
    Cami snorted. “Yes, like that cargo handler you told to throw himself out of an airlock because he asked you to sign off on a shipment.”
    Technically, the guy had interrupted his conversation with Cami to demand he sign something two other people in the bay had clearance to approve. Well, that, and Tariq had also caught him staring at Cami’s ass more than once during the morning. As far as he was concerned, the idiot deserved worse.
    “Why are you trying to pick a fight with me?”
    “I’m not.”
    She’d been combative since he’d refused to take her to that awful bar. Tariq just didn’t know why. “Are you even listening to yourself? You’re being a child.”
    Cami stopped dead in her tracks and spun around to jab her finger in his stomach. “No. You’re treating me like a child, and it’s…it’s… you’re pissing me off !”
    Hearing the expletive—however minor—issue from her own mouth must have surprised her, because her eyes widened, and she clamped her lips together. Adorable little snorts escaped through her nose, followed by muffled giggles, which eventually turned into a full belly laugh. Never in his life had he seen one little swear make anyone so happy.
    “I’ve never cursed before,” she explained around her chuckles. “I’m not supposed